AMD took the opportunity at Computex to show server platforms running the Quad-Core AMD Opteron processors, codenamed
Barcelona, with the help of MSI, Supermicro, TYAN and Uniwide

The AMD quad-core processors are designed
to drop-in (following a BIOS upgrade) with all existing AMD
Opteron processor-based systems using DDR2 memory, while also
enabling new platform capabilities such as those being demonstrated today.

One vendor demonstrated Barcelona to DailyTech, running at 1.6GHz. According to engineers familiar with the chip technology, the current AMD Barcelona samples are not scaling core frequencies well. AMD partners confirmed the highest running, POST and OS capable, Barcelona processor is 2.0 GHz. AMD previously posted benchmarks of a simulated 2.6 GHz Barcelona.

“We commend AMD for its non-disruptive
roadmaps, allowing for a smooth upgrade from dual-core to quad-core,” said
Danny Hsu, president, TYAN. “Streamlining and mitigating the complexities
customers often face when upgrading their IT infrastructure is especially
important in today’s competitive marketplace. TYAN has collaborated with AMD
since 2001, and we will continue to support and take advantage of the
customer-centric innovation AMD is offering in its quad-core processors when
they are made available later this year.”

AMD roadmaps show Barcelona-based Opteron processors will launch in July, but the general consensus from partners is the processor isn’t performing well enough for a July launch.

“Quad-core, codenamed Barcelona will launch later this summer, in the July,
August kind of time frame -- followed by [consumer chips] on the desktop... You'll
see that in the Christmas line-up,” stated Robert Rivet, AMD executive
vice president and CFO, just a few months ago.

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You are right 4x4 is no logical match for any of the current Intel solutions out today, I asked the question to the VIP of Marketing of the software company I worked at last "why on earth would AMD release a chipset/platform that is by all means crippled by its current competition from Intel"?. He said "sometimes simply supporting the correct word, like "quad, or 4x" in this situation may pursuade enough of the customers that are "less in the know" to make its release worth going through with. Although in this situation AMD 4x4 sucks very badly, its easy to apply his logic to many product releases and might explain AMD's thought process despite their lack of success with the product of discussion. This is based on a moot topic though, Intel is the choice hands down, but I thought I would share the marketing logic I had learned and hope it applies.

In part I would agree that AMD was just trying to get the name out but part of it was also to work any bugs before the quads hit the market. With a 2x2 set up it's naturally going to lose to a chip that has all 4 cores on one processor, even if the individual cores are identical in performance. The true test of the platform is going to be the nut with too much money to spend that slaps 2 quads and a 4 X Crossfire setup on it. Maybe by the time this is all available I'll have enough saved up to throw down on one myself. Of course I'll be reduced to a Ramen noodle diet to pay the electric bill every month.....

Exactly, I think AMD knows their the 4x4 will really shine when they get quad. 8x4 is likely crap all over anything Intel has given that Intel still lacks a 'Xeon for desktops'. Of course you'd have to be insane to want 8x4 but all AMD cares about is being able to advertise the fastest system. Intel could of course respond by sticking two of their Penryns together and making a 8 core OR by speeding up the 'Xeon for desktops' platform. But AMD will probably still have that area all to themselves for a while at least. Intel also are still stuck on the FSB and I suspect it'll start to show with a 8 core system.